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- Screening of patients begins
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
North and South American medics, numbering about 70, are expected to conduct about 100- 200 surgeries during a 10-day medical outreach in Abia State.
Screening of patients for the surgeries has commenced across 65 centres in Abia State ahead of the free medical mission to be held in the state by the Association of Nigeria Physicians in the Americas (ANPA).
The screening, according to a release jointly signed by the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee cum Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, Professor Azubuike Onyebuchi; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Ifeyinwa Uma-kalu, began on Monday, February 19 and will end on Friday, March 22nd.
“It’s to be held from 9 am – 4pm, Monday to Friday at no cost by the patients”, the release added.
The outreach the release added was aimed at rendering services to 5000 patients, “plus preventative screenings, skills transfer and capacity building workshops/education”
ANPA, according to available information, had in December 2023, selected Abia State for the 2024 edition of her annual medical outreach scheduled for April 4 – 14.
The outreach will hold simultaneously at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia, Abia Diagnostic Centre Umuahia, and General Hospital Amachara.
“Screening of patients with serious health conditions that require surgery has commenced at the designated centres across the state for easy accessibility to every resident”, the statement added.
“The screening will end on Friday 22nd March, 2024. The Laboratory tests for patients booked for surgery will begin on 18th March and end on 22nd March, 2024.
“Likewise, blood donation commences on 18th March and continues all through the period of the medical mission.”
The 65 screening centres according to the statement are in some designated health facilities located in all the local government areas of the state.
The statement encouraged Abia residents with serious ailments requiring surgery to approach any of the screening centres close to them for free medical examination.
It also appealed for volunteers to help build enough blood bank for the surgeries, urging any willing donor to also approach the centres for screening from March 18.
The medical outreach, according to the statement, is in collaboration with Abia State Government and some non governmental organizations including “Rotary International District 9142 , ASNA, NeoPed, DAGOMO and IRRE.”
